Improving a home’s energy efficiency with insulation will save money and carbon and now is the time to address this. Householders should take advantage of the current subsidies and grants available towards the cost of insulation before the current Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme ends this December.

The National Insulation Association (NIA) is advising that one sure way for householders to reduce fuel bills and enjoy savings year after year is to have insulation installed and so has listed of the benefits of insulation below.

1. Over 50% of a home's heat can be lost through un-insulated walls and lofts. A hassle-free way to save energy and prevent money disappearing into thin air is to stop this heat escaping with insulation.

2. The cost of having insulation has never been lower, as there are a wide range of grants and subsidies available and, in some cases, it could even be free!

3. Solid Wall Insulation can save around £460 a year on a householder’s fuel bills year-on-year! It can also reduce a home’s carbon footprint by around 2 tonnes of CO2 a year.

4. If every UK household suitable for Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI) installed it, a saving of 4 million tonnes of CO2 every year could be made – a decrease in 550kg of CO2 per household. CWI pays for itself in around 2 years and will typically save around £135 a year on a householder’s fuel bills.

5. Loft insulation can save around £175 per year on a householder’s fuel bills and around 720kg of CO2 a year.

6. Draught proofing around leaky door and window frames can save around £55 a year on heating bills and can make a home feel more snug and Comfortable.

7. NIA members will provide an independent 25 year guarantee from the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) when CWI is installed, providing the householder with an independent, uniform and dependable guarantee.

8. Tax allowances of up to £1,500 are available until 2015 for landlords through the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance, enabling landlords to claim the cost of insulation solutions on all their properties.

9. Homeowners can be safe in the knowledge that an NIA installer will have signed up to a strict Code of Professional Practice.

10. The best way to find out if a house requires insulation is to contact an NIA installer member for a free survey and quotation by using the postcode locater search on the NIA’s home page.

To find out more or to contact their local installer householders should visit the NIA website on www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk or call 08451 636363